Here’s a grounded explanation of who the Knights Radiant are in The Way of Kings and why they’re central to the story.
Who the Knights Radiant are
-
Magical warriors (and more) The Knights Radiant are a group of people on Roshar who gain magical powers through a bond with beings called spren. These individuals are called Surgebinders. Each Radiant order has two specific powers (Surges) it can use.
-
They come in ten orders There are ten different orders of Knights Radiant, each tied to a spren type, with different ideals, duties, and abilities. Examples include the Windrunners, Skybreakers, Lightweavers, Bondsmiths, etc.
-
Share a core oath and ideals All Radiants swear the same First Ideal: “Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination.” Beyond that, each order has additional Ideals illustrating the character of that particular order.
-
Their origin They were founded roughly 6,000 years before the main events, created to protect Roshar from recurring catastrophic events called Desolations, working alongside the Heralds. Their stronghold or center was in the city of Urithiru.
Significance in The Way of Kings
-
Ancient protectors and mythic legacy By the time of The Way of Kings, the original Knights Radiant are long gone—believed by many to have betrayed mankind on an event called the Day of Recreance. Their power, weapons (Shardblades), and armor (Shardplate) are legendary.
-
Symbols of hope and restoration Several main characters—Kaladin, Dalinar, and Shallan—begin to revive or rediscover what it means to be a Knight Radiant. Their arcs involve fulfilling the Ideals and swearing new Oaths, which ties directly to Roshar's larger conflict.
-
Central to the magic system and cosmology The powers Radiants wield (from their Surges), the nature of the spren, and the magic tied to the highstorms and stormlight are all intertwined with the existence of the Knights Radiant. Their role affects everything from politics and war to religion and worldview in Roshar.
-
Driving the plot Dalinar has visions that suggest the Knights Radiant must stand again. Shallan’s research into their secrets—and the artifacts tied to them—reveals hidden truths. Kaladin's growth is tied to living up to Radiant Ideals.
If you want, I can also list the ten orders and their Surges, along with examples of Radiants from each order.
Sources
Provider metadata
Tap to read source excerpt